Live Well Be Well

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Have you ever noticed how a song can instantly change your mood? In this clip, I'm exploring how sound and vibration might influence the body, including stress responses and the way we experience emotions day to day. This clip explores the idea of the body as a “tuning fork”, where music, voice, and environmental frequency may affect us at a cellular level, including through fascia. We also look at visual examples of water and sand responding to specific frequencies and how that connects to the wider conversation about vibration, emotion, and why some people feel others' energy when they enter a room. Jason Van Blerk in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_shareMost of us are far kinder to strangers than we are to ourselves. We offer warmth, patience, and understanding to everyone around us, and yet when we struggle, we reach for the harshest possible voice. Why is that? And more importantly, what can we do about it?This week on Live Well Be Well, we are exploring the profound and life-changing power of self-compassion, bringing together five extraordinary voices:- Dr. Kristen Neff, whose 20 years of research built the scientific foundation of self-kindness;- Professor Paul Gilbert, founder of Compassion-Focused Therapy;- Philosopher and author Alain de Botton;- Bestselling author Oliver Burkeman;- and gut health physician Dr. Will Bulsiewicz.We dive deep into the biological and psychological reasons why we fight ourselves, and how shifting from a "threat" mindset to one of "care" can fundamentally change our health. Here's what we explore together:- The Three Pillars of Self-Compassion: Dr. Kristen Neff explains why you need kindness, mindfulness, and a sense of shared humanity to truly heal.- Hacking the Nervous System: Professor Paul Gilbert discusses how to move from a "fight, flight, or freeze" response into a "tend and befriend" state.- The Origins of the Inner Critic: Alain de Botton reveals how we internalize the voices of authority from our past and how to start a "goodbye ceremony" to those that no longer serve us.Love,Sarah Ann

Why does it still feel stigmatised to talk about sex, even when sexual norms are more open than ever? Because for many people, that lingering sense of taboo can feel like the missing piece, no matter how “free” or modern our culture seems.This clip explores why these conversations can still feel difficult and why that silence can carry real weight. As a nutritionist and health communicator, Sarah reflects on the emotional and cultural layers that shape how comfortable we feel discussing sex, intimacy, and what we actually need.Dr Laurie Mintz in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.

Are you ignoring symptoms that might need a urology check? If you're unsure what urology actually covers, this conversation breaks it down clearly and explains why getting an evaluation can be so important, including the reminder that it could save your life.This clip explores what urology is, what kinds of health concerns it relates to, and why timely assessment matters. I'm discussing the importance of taking symptoms seriously and not delaying medical evaluation, with a practical, health-first perspective and clear communication you can trust as a nutritionist and wellbeing educator.Listen to the full episode ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_shareYou are doing everything right. You are eating well, you are exercising, you are optimizing. And somehow, you still aren't feeling as well as you hoped. That was me at 21, before my body finally found a way to make me listen.This week on Live Well Be Well, I want to talk to you about something I've been sitting with for the last ten years, something I've seen quietly transform the lives of my clients, something that changed the entire direction of my own life, and something I've spent the last year pouring into my new book, Healthy Shouldn't Be This Hard.This episode is a deeply personal one. I trace the thread from my own health collapse at 21 all the way to the $8.5 trillion wellness industry that, despite its size, is leaving most of us feeling worse, not better. We talk about the try-slip-shame-restart cycle so many of us are trapped in, and why we keep mistaking self-criticism for self-improvement. I also dig into two landmark studies that stopped me in my tracks while writing this book: Ellen Langer's hotel maid experiment, which showed that perception alone changed women's weight and blood pressure without a single lifestyle change, and Alia Crum's milkshake study, which revealed that our thoughts directly alter our hunger hormones.The science is clear. Our bodies are listening to everything we think about ourselves.Love,Sarah Ann

Do you ever wonder why both men and women can end up prioritising the man? In this conversation, I'm looking at how that dynamic shows up in real life, and why it matters for both men and women. This clip explores the idea that prioritising the man is not just something men expect, but something women can reinforce too, often without realising it. I'm discussing what that looks like in day-to-day relationships, the assumptions that can sit underneath it, and why it's worth men listening closely to this conversation as well. Dr Laurie Mintz in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Are you comparing what you see on YouTube to what feels normal in your own life? If you've ever watched online content and thought it looks like a very different scenario than what's actually normal, this conversation will feel familiar.This clip explores the gap between what's presented on YouTube and what someone considers a more typical, real-world situation, highlighting how online examples can shape expectations and perceptions.Listen to the full episode ⁠⁠here⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠here⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Do you ever feel a bit awkward talking about vibrators? Because even in a light, laughter-filled moment, it can be clear there's still a lot to say and a lot of discomfort around the topic. This clip explores a candid exchange about vibrators, capturing how quickly the conversation can move from hesitation to humour and openness.As a nutritionist and health communicator, Sarah brings a grounded, educational tone to wellbeing conversations, even when the topic feels a little taboo. Here, that comes through in a simple but telling moment: acknowledging there's “quite a lot” to discuss, and then leaning into how “fabulous” and “amazing” it can be to talk about it more honestly.Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Have you ever wondered why sexual education rarely talks about variety? It's often treated as a topic we skip over, even though it can be a key part of a healthy, enjoyable sex life and better communication with your partner. This clip explores why doing the same thing every time can become limiting, and why introducing variety matters. Sarah discusses how this is something many people are never taught in sex education, and how changing things up can help keep intimacy feeling more connected and responsive rather than repetitive. As a nutritionist and health communicator, Sarah brings her practical, supportive approach to a topic that sits within wider wellbeing, relationships, and how we learn about our bodies. Listen to the full episode ⁠here⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠here***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Most women were never taught how to talk about sex — not really — and a therapist with over 35 years of couples work makes one thing clear: faulty communication has contributed to every single relationship problem she has ever seen, without exception. In this clip, you will hear the three communication rules that change not just your sex life but the entire emotional architecture of your relationship, including why asking "do you want to have sex?" may be doing more harm than you think. If intimacy has started to feel like another area of your life where you are somehow getting it wrong, this conversation will reframe that completely.Dr Laurie Mintz in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_shareHave you ever felt on fire from the inside, with no language to describe what was happening? That is exactly where Matt Haig found himself at 24. And what he chose to do with that experience has since helped millions of people feel less alone.This week on Live Well Be Well, I'm sitting down with bestselling author Matt Haig. Over two decades, he has written with raw honesty about depression, anxiety, and neurodiversity. Diagnosed with ADHD and autism in his mid-40s, he writes not to have the answers, but to make you feel like your questions are valid.Here's what we dive into:- How Matt's crisis at 24 in Ibiza, including agoraphobia, panic attacks, and suicidal despair, became the turning point that made him a writer.- Why writing about mental health was never about being an expert, but about finding language so a younger, suffering version of himself could feel less alone.- What a late ADHD and autism diagnosis in midlife actually feels like, and why understanding your brain does not mean you suddenly understand everything about yourself.- How ADHD can be quietly advantageous when you stop fighting it, and why an interest-driven brain can lead to a deeply authentic life.- Why the opposite of depression is not happiness. It is the boring, beautiful neutrality of a mind that can spend one minute thinking about an ordinary email.- How the word "impossible" became Matt's greatest source of motivation: if you survived the most impossible thing, everything else becomes possible too.- How running, routine, and the most unglamorous physical basics were the things that actually brought Matt back.Love,Sarah Ann

Are you wondering how dating has changed since 2008, and why authenticity now matters so much? In this conversation, we explore how the main way people met partners used to be through work or church, compared with today where online dating is the most common route and communication often starts through a phone screen.Listen to the full episode ⁠⁠here⁠⁠Watch the full episode on Youtube ⁠⁠here⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Most women were never taught the most basic, scientifically supported thing they can do for their own wellbeing — and the shame around that silence is doing real damage. In this clip, Dr. Laurie Mintz, sex therapist and researcher, shares the study showing that 93% of women who had never experienced orgasm became orgasmic with one straightforward intervention — and why that statistic has been hiding in plain sight. If you have ever felt broken, ashamed, or simply uninformed about your own body, this is the conversation you didn't know you needed.Dr Laurie Mintz in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_shareYou've seen the headlines. You've watched the celebrities transform. Maybe you've even wondered, quietly, if it could be for you. But what is the science really saying?This week on Live Well Be Well, I sit down with Dr. Jack Mosley, GP registrar, and author of Food Noise. Jack brings a perspective that is honest, nuanced, and completely free of hype. We get into what these drugs can genuinely do, who they are truly for, and why taking them without lifestyle support is like putting on noise-cancelling headphones without ever learning to listen to yourself.Here's What We Dive Into:- Why up to 40% of weight lost on GLP-1 medications can come from lean muscle, not fat, and why that matters more than the number on the scale.- What "food noise" actually is and why silencing it with medication is only half the story.- The 80% reality: why most people regain all their weight within 20 months of stopping and what the 20% who don't have in common.- Why these are not cosmetic medications, who they are genuinely for, and the real risks of microdosing without clinical need.Love,Sarah Ann

Most women have heard of creatine — but only as something for gym bros loading up before a workout. What the sports science research actually shows is that creatine monohydrate may be one of the most important supplements for women navigating perimenopause, brain fog, gut issues, and mood changes — and almost no one is talking about it outside of performance circles. This clip breaks down exactly which form to take, how much, why it takes three weeks to work, and what the collagen supplement industry isn't telling you about protein intake and joint health.Dr. Stacy SimsListen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.comMojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***Sign up to Sarah's Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***Let's be friends!

Most of us can list our values on demand — family, health, kindness — but do we actually live by them? This clip introduces the Saturday Test, a deceptively simple tool from relationship psychology: where you spend your free time and discretionary money on a Saturday reveals your true values far more accurately than anything you'd write in a journal. If you've ever wondered why your relationships keep hitting the same walls, or why you feel quietly out of alignment with your own life, this one question might be the most clarifying thing you do this week.Listen to the full episode ⁠here⁠Watch the full episode on Youtube ⁠here***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

We're living in a $150 billion supplement industry, where every scroll through social media tells you you're missing something. A pill for your gut, your sleep, your hormones, your brain. It's exhausting. And more often than not, people are spending real money on things they can't fully explain, chasing solutions to problems they haven't properly diagnosed.As a nutritionist, these are the questions I get asked about the most, so I wanted to sit down and give you my honest, evidence-based verdict on the supplements that are everywhere right now. Not hype. Not fear. Just clarity, so you can make decisions that are actually right for you.Before we dive into the individual supplements, I want to give you a framework that I think changes everything. Before taking anything, ask yourself three questions: Why do I actually need this? How will I know if it's working? And could food solve this instead? These questions alone can save you a small fortune and a lot of confusion.Here's What We Dive Into:- Why most people are taking supplements without a clear reason, and the three questions that change everything.- What creatine research is now revealing about women's brain health, mood, and aging.- Why vitamin D is the one supplement that food genuinely cannot replace.- How your gut microbiome actually thrives, and why a probiotic pill usually is not the answer.- The honest truth about collagen, NAD+, and where your money is better spent.Love,Sarah Ann

If you've ever felt like you're failing because you can't hold it together all the time — this conversation with philosopher and author Alain de Botton will change how you see yourself. Science confirms that happiness comes in 15-minute bursts, and the relentless pursuit of permanent calm is the very thing driving burnout in high-achieving women. You'll also discover the simple eight-minute text that could transform how you ask for help — and finally let the people who love you actually show up.Alain De Button in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

You're not exhausted because you're bad at managing stress — you're exhausted because modern life is designed to bankrupt your body's energy budget, and hormonal transitions like perimenopause make it exponentially harder to recover. Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett explains why fight-or-flight doesn't work the way you've been told, why fatigue is often confused for hunger, and what a simple check-in question can do to interrupt the shame spiral before it starts. If you've ever hated yourself for being tired, this is the science that finally puts the blame where it belongs.Dr Lisa Feldman in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Why is it that the loudest voices in health are often the ones we trust the most — even when they're not the most qualified? In a world where confidence travels faster than evidence, it can feel almost impossible to know who to believe.This week on Live Well Be Well, I'm joined again by the brilliant Dr. Gemma Newman. Gemma is a GP, author, and deeply thoughtful voice in the wellness space, known for her ability to bridge science, psychology, and compassion. In this conversation, we explore the uncomfortable truths behind power, influence, and the psychology that shapes who we trust. From the Epstein files to spiritual gurus, we unpack how easily admiration can turn into blind faith — and what it really takes to stay grounded in your own truth. This is a conversation about discernment, integrity, and learning to trust yourself in a world full of noise.Here's what we explore together:Why confident health advice often outperforms true expertise — and how algorithms amplify this. The psychology behind why we trust powerful, successful, or attractive people more easily. How the “halo effect” can blind us to red flags in health, wellness, and beyond. What the shadow self really is — and why ignoring it can lead to harmful behaviour.How spiritual teachings like non-attachment can sometimes be misused or misunderstood.The dangers of hero worship — and why “never meet your heroes” can sometimes ring true.How to spot misalignment between someone's public persona and private behaviour.Why women's voices can feel diluted in health conversations — and how to reclaim them.The impact of movements like MeToo in helping women reconnect with their instincts.How overwhelm, misinformation, and “chaos tactics” can keep us stuck and disconnected.The ethical tension between doing good and holding too much power (fromgurus to billionaires).Why accountability, humility, and multiple perspectives are essential in health leadership.How cancel culture can sometimes do more harm than good — and what to do instead.A practical framework for discernment: using your brain, heart, and gut together.Why the most important work always starts with integrating your own shadow.Love, Sarah Ann

You're in your mid-30s, gaining weight, losing sleep, and foggy in a way no amount of coffee fixes — and your doctor handed you an antidepressant. What if it wasn't stress, anxiety, or lack of discipline? What if it was perimenopause, starting years earlier than anyone told you? This clip breaks down the real biology behind "tired but wired," gut microbiome changes, and why brain fog in women is often a hormonal signal the medical system keeps missing — and keeps misdiagnosing.Dr. Stacy SimsListen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.comMojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***Sign up to Sarah's Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***Let's be friends!

Do you speak to yourself as kindly as you would to a friend? We examine how harsh inner voices are often carried from childhood and how a kinder stance can help when you mess up. This clip explores naming and dismissing that internal critic, the role of the ‘super ego', the limits of relying on a motivational whip, the creative costs of self-censorship, and why our biology makes criticism stick, even online. Alain De Button in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Do you want to understand why the clitoris is often central to orgasm? Because the clitoris is the anatomical counterpart to the penis, with a highly sensitive external tip and a much larger internal structure made of erectile tissue. This clip explores how the clitoris develops, how the inner labia and clitoral hood relate to penile anatomy, and why the glans can be too sensitive for direct touch for many people due to its concentration of nerve endings.This segment examines what arousal looks like physically, including how the clitoris enlarges during arousal as blood flows into erectile tissue and is released through rhythmic pelvic floor contractions. We also talk about why penetration alone often is not enough for orgasm, including the difference between touch-sensitive and pressure-sensitive nerve endings in the vagina, and why some orgasms during intercourse may still be driven by clitoral stimulation, including internal clitoral structures that surround the vagina.Dr Laurie Mintz in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

How can couples talk about hard feelings without hurting each other? This clip explores building a therapeutic atmosphere where jealousy, mixed feelings, and the need for space can be shared gently. Here, I'm discussing why self-understanding must come before communication, how “I feel” language respects two realities, and what an examined relationship means beyond formal therapy. We also consider going to bed on an argument, avoiding freeze-outs by returning to the table quickly, and setting WhatsApp rules to avoid aggravating anxious or avoidant attachment. Alain De Button in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_shareThis week on Live Well Be Well, I'm joined by the extraordinary Dr. Nighat Arif, NHS GP, women's health advocate, author of The Knowledge and the brand new The Family Health Bible, and one of the most courageous voices in medicine today. Dr. Nighat has spent nearly two decades in the NHS holding space for the women the system has failed and she's built an online community of millions by doing exactly what she does in her surgery: speaking honestly, clearly, and without shame about the things nobody else will say.Here's What We Dive Into:- How a dare from Dr. Nighat's sister during lockdown sparked a global conversation about vaginal dryness and why she chose to begin it in Punjabi.- Why perimenopause can begin as early as 38 to 40, and what the research says about Black and Asian women going through this transition two to five years earlier than average.- How medical gaslighting and medical misogyny show up in real consultations including Dr. Nighat's own experiences of being dismissed as a patient, both for PCOS and for lichen sclerosis.- Why Dr. Nighat now recommends that women start moisturising their vulva and vagina from the age of 20, and which ingredients to avoid.- How the vaginal ring works, why it's barely spoken about, and why the seven-day pill break has more to do with the Pope than with medicine.- Why Trump's defunding of women's health research and the framing of female bodies as a "business opportunity" is one of the most urgent issues facing medicine right now.Love,Sarah Ann

Can your cycle and contraception influence who you find attractive? This clip explores how rising estrogen near ovulation aligns with stronger preferences for facial, vocal, and behavioral masculinity, why testosterone can signal immune robustness, and what happens when ovulation is suppressed by the pill. It also examines data on changes in attraction after stopping hormonal birth control, including the 25 percent less, 25 percent more, 50 percent no change pattern, and reported differences in sexual frequency among women depending on when they chose their partner. Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/tNoDNnpSkdASarah Hill in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Want a simple way to reset your health in the new year? Start with your beverages: water, tea and coffee can support hydration, polyphenols and healthy aging. This clip explores filtered water to limit microplastics and metals, avoiding plastic bottles, loose leaf tea and an easy steeping tip, medium roast and organic coffee for more polyphenols, what changes with decaf, skipping dairy milk and added sugar, and why to avoid artificial sweeteners. We also cover thirst vs hunger, keeping water in sight, water before meals for fullness, and how cold water can activate brown fat. Watch the FULL podcast hereWatch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/yZDzsfNjG_MWilliam Li in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Are your habits helping or hijacking your brain? This clip explores how learned routines like toothbrushing, with oral health linked to heart disease and dementia, contrast with habits we never learned for our minds.This segment examines why calorie-rich foods and constant phone access exploit evolved instincts, why Christmas grazing happens, and how removing cues helps. Practical ideas include keeping junk food and phones out of reach, placing your phone in another room for meetings or class, and exercising daily despite excuses unless you're genuinely ill. Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/HHvG8HEYdjAAnders Hansen in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Do anxious and avoidant partners keep finding each other? Often, we're drawn to familiar dynamics and hope to solve old problems as adults. This clip explores the anxious-avoidant pattern, repetition compulsion, and why styles rarely change but can be managed. We discuss dialing conflicts down, naming your pattern early, and setting firm boundaries such as asking for regular check-ins. It also considers choosing calmer relationships over intense fireworks to support your nervous system. Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/eTbA81qNYt4Alain De Button in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Struggling to focus in a tech-filled world? Here, I'm discussing why our brains evolved to be easily distracted and how simple habits can protect attention. This clip explores exercise-driven brain benefits: about 20% higher blood flow, sharper focus and creativity for roughly an hour after, and better memory for study. We also cover the long-term mental health gains from three pulse-raising sessions a week of around 45 minutes, why daily movement still matters, and practical tips like keeping your phone out of the room and building movement into your day with walking, cycling, or stairs. ***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Do you ever find yourself standing in front of the fridge at 6 PM just staring into the light? It is that heavy feeling of being completely "done" for the day. It is not just physical fatigue. It is your brain telling you it has nothing left to give. I have been there so many times and I want you to know that it is not a failure of willpower. This week is a little different because it is just you and me. I wanted to sit down and have a real heart to heart about why staying healthy feels so incredibly hard right now. We are living in such a loud and polarizing world when it comes to nutrition and honestly it is exhausting. I am sharing the concept of the Brain Bank Account which has been a total game changer for how I manage my own energy. We are moving away from the "shoulds" and looking at how to build gentle systems that actually hold you up when life gets messy.Here's what we dive into:- Why the world of nutrition feels so loud and confusing and how to find your own quiet center again.- How to use the Brain Bank Account method to stop overdrawing your internal energy.- What happens to our brains when we hit that 3 PM slump and how to nourish our way through it.- Why making decisions about food is actually one of the most taxing things we do every day.- How to align your natural biological rhythms with your busy social life without the stress.- What the Great British Veg Out is all about and why adding more is always better than taking away.- Why your health is individual and how to stop comparing your "off days" to someone else's highlight reel.Love, Sarah Ann

How long does heartbreak really last and what actually helps you heal? This clip explores heartbreak as a trauma that can take years, the call for real closure, and how unexplained breakups shatter trust and sense of self. I'm exploring with my guest the quieter, tragic view that not all pain becomes growth, even while we may learn boundaries and ask sharper questions. Here, I'm discussing the slow turn toward self-compassion, moving from siding with the rejector to being on your own side, and what recovery realistically looks like. Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/eTbA81qNYt4***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/tNoDNnpSkdADo you feel like two different people across your cycle? Understanding the brain effects of estrogen and progesterone can help you trust both advisors within you. This clip explores the often overlooked luteal phase, why progesterone matters for mood, sleep, and decision making, and how it's used after concussion to protect the brain. We also touch on perimenopause care and why progesterone isn't just for the uterus, plus emerging questions about neuroprotection and Alzheimer's. Watch the ***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Why is it that we often feel like we need to solve the mystery of our own bodies in total silence? For so many of us, the path to pleasure has been paved with confusion or even shame, leaving us feeling like there is something broken within us when there truly isn't.This week on Live Well Be Well, I am sitting down with the pioneering Dr. Laurie Mintz. Laurie is a psychologist and author who is on a mission to close the orgasm gap and help us reclaim our right to feel alive and connected in our most intimate moments.In this conversation, we dismantle the cultural lies that have taught us to prioritize everyone's pleasure except our own. Here's what we explore together:- What the clitoris actually is and why it has been linguistically and scientifically erased for centuries.- How the myth of the penetrative orgasm is keeping women from experiencing true fulfillment.- Why your brain is your most powerful sexual organ and how to stop overthinking in the bedroom.- How to bridge the orgasm gap by moving away from patriarchal scripts and toward pleasure equality.- Why masturbation is a vital first step in understanding your own unique biological language.- What it means to be truly in your body and how play can transform your adult health.- How to navigate the honest and awkward conversations that lead to the most meaningful connections of your life.- Why information is the ultimate power in reclaiming your body and your joy.Love, Sarah Ann

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/qHFymGgsYyECan you do everything right and still face Alzheimer's risk? It can happen, and we discuss how environmental toxins, metabolic health, and shifting hormones may play a role. This clip explores two grandmothers with opposite lifestyles, highlighting possible factors like hemoglobin A1c, menopause-related drops in estrogen, and other hormones including IGF-1 and thyroid. We also consider genetic resilience and detox capacity, and why relying on luck isn't wise. Women are addressed directly, with advice to see a good hormone doctor during perimenopause and menopause. ***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/yZDzsfNjG_MCurious what Akkermansia actually does for your health? It's discussed here as a keystone gut microbe linked to improved insulin sensitivity, lower A1C in clinical studies, GLP-1 release and healthier blood vessels, with associations to cancer immunotherapy response. This clip explores the gut brain circulation connection, how metabolism and energy relate to this microbe, and why people considering immunotherapy might also focus on gut health. We also touch on the importance of discussing immunotherapy with an oncologist and staying within medical advice boundaries. ***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

We spend so much of our lives trying to be impressive. We polish our edges and hide our cracks because we're terrified that being "real" means being weak. But what if the very things we are hiding are actually the only bridges to real connection? It is a scary thought, but one that completely changes how we show up in the world.Here's what we explore together:- Why being "invulnerable" is sometimes just as important as being open and how to know the difference.- How accepting your own foolishness can actually make you invincible to humiliation.- Why we feel "boring" with some people and alive with others and why it is not your fault.- How to use curiosity to metabolize pain and crisis into understanding.- Why following your "gut" in love can sometimes lead you straight into disaster.- Why the truth sometimes needs to be delivered in "small pieces" to be heard.- Why a functioning relationship is the most difficult achievement of a human life.- How to find a path that fits your unique nature in a world that wants you to conform.Love, Sarah Ann

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/HHvG8HEYdjAAre we built to manage only about 150 meaningful relationships, and what does that mean for our health? It matters because small, real-world connections help lower loneliness-driven stress that can worsen heart disease prognosis and raise some cancer risk. This clip explores the 150-person social limit, why in-person cues beat screens, a call-based study that eased loneliness, concerns about AI companions and hyper-independence, and lessons from hunter-gatherers on movement, sleep, and mood. Together we consider balancing fast tech with our unchanged human needs. ***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Can specific gut and mouth bacteria influence brain health and conditions like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's? We look at early clinical work on Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 and its potential to slow Parkinson's progression, links between gum disease and dementia, and how Lactobacillus reuteri may stimulate oxytocin. This clip explores the gut-brain and oral-brain connections, the idea of a brain microbiome, and emerging views on brain regeneration and healthy aging. ***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Ever feel like you're waking up as two different people depending on the week of the month? One week you're taking on the world with total confidence, and the next, you're second-guessing every decision you've ever made. It turns out, that isn't just "you being emotional", it's actually a sign of your brain responding to a very specific biological rhythm.This week on Live Well Be Well, I'm sitting down with the brilliant Dr. Sarah Hill. She's an evolutionary psychologist and the author of This Is Your Brain on Birth Control and The Period Brain. Sarah has this incredible way of explaining how our hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, aren't just about reproduction; they are actually "wise advisors" that shape how we think, who we're attracted to, and how we show up in our work and relationships.Here's what we explore together:- Your Hormones as Information: How these biological signals act as internal guides for your behavior and motivation.- The "Two Advisors" Theory: Why feeling different across your cycle actually makes you a better, more well-rounded decision-maker.- The Power of Progesterone: Why this often-ignored hormone is actually a neuroprotective "superpower" that helps your brain slow down and recover.- Cycle Variability: Why your "symptoms" can change every month based on everything from sleep to stress.- The Male Perspective: A fascinating look at how men's testosterone is actually more reactive to the environment (like sports or competition) compared to the predictable cycles of women.- Bridging the Cultural Gap: How to stop overriding your body's natural cues in a world that expects you to be the same person every single day.Love, Sarah Ann

Can boredom and daydreaming actually boost creativity and calm? Here, I'm discussing how a solo writing sprint in nature left my HRV higher and my mind clearer, then we examine the default mode and executive networks, task switching, and screen-free habits. This clip explores the Meals, Bedroom, Bathroom rule for no phones, the value of nature time, and reframing boredom as daydreaming to restore the brain. We talk practical steps for dopamine-heavy habits, why reflection improves decisions, and how daydreaming can spark ideas and support mental health. Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/ZoyEJ0WD99g***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/qHFymGgsYyEWorried about Alzheimer's and what you can do now? You'll hear practical, testable steps to lower risk by targeting metabolism, inflammation and toxins, plus daily habits for brain rest and sleep. This clip explores the idea that Alzheimer's can have different drivers, the importance of early testing (continuous glucose monitors, hs-CRP, urine toxin tests), and simple changes like meditation, less phone time, better sleep, air purifiers, filtered water, non-toxic skin products, and eating organic while avoiding ultra-processed foods.***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.